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Your letters, June 17
Our dance mattered
Council was not helpful
Dear editor, I write in response to your article concerning the council, in which they state they are concerned about individuals who are not claiming the benefits and to get in touch.
My sister has had to convert her dining area into a bedroom for her recently-disabled husband.
She was told by friends that she could claim money back on her council tax.
My sister rang the council and spoke to staff who she didn't find particularly helpful.
However, not to be put off, she called again and was told they would have to assess her situation.
Eventually, my sister went to the council offices where she was told that they could not look into her situation as they were behind with their work.
My sister refused to move until they did something about it and was eventually dealt with.
Her council tax is now going to be reduced, but she has had to be persistent to get anywhere.
Is this the sort of help the council are giving? If it is, I am not surprised people are missing out.
Might I suggest to get the word across to the public the council publish a weekly bulletin with what benefits people can claim?
Stephanie Patterson
via email
EDITOR'S NOTE: A spokesman for Chorley Council said: "We're really sorry and surprised at the level of service, support and assistance outlined in this case. We have a great track record in customer services and benefits, where we assist people quicker than most other councils in the UK as a rule. We'd encourage the claimant to get back in touch so we can put things right – and also encourage anyone else who feels they need help with benefits in any other way to get in touch. This isn't our usual feedback from customers."
BNP don't represent me
Dear editor, I don't consider myself a particularly political person, and certainly don't belong to a political party, but I write on the day we hear that we are to be represented in the European Parliament by Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party.
This is a truly sickening and appalling result and surely cannot be truly indicative of the views of people of this area.
The BNP's policies are dangerous and divisive.
The BNP has benefited from the current backlash against politicians, and from all the people who stayed at home instead of using their vote.
Let's hope they've now realised how this just lets in the extremists.
I am writing to Nick Griffin to tell him that he certainly does not represent me in the European Parliament, and invite any who agree to do the same.
F.H.
Brinscall
Thanks for your votes
Dear editor, despite the furore from Westminster, or because of it, many took the opportunity to meet and speak to the Lancashire County Council Conservative candidates and to read our information leaflets.
We were delighted at the way the Chorley electorate responded and accepted the need for a change in administration and then voted for it.
The hard work now begins for us to justify your confidence in us. We will work in the best interests of the whole of the community in Chorley .
We would like to say "Thank you" to everyone who helped us in any way and particularly to the electors who have sent us to County Hall.
Peter Malpas, Lawrence Catterall, Pat Case, Sam Chapman, Michael Devaney, Keith Iddon
County councillors for Chorley
... I might try again
Dear editor, ladies and gentleman of Chorley. Once again I thank you for your continued support (in the recent election).It is my deep regret that I've not been able to provide you with a victory.
I have been moved by the number of people who have contacted me, all requesting me to continue.
So next time, perhaps!
Colin Denby
The New Party
(via website)
Masts should be shared
Dear editor, reading Margaret White's letter about phone masts (Guardian, June 10), left me wondering if she really understood the full picture.
There is good intention to raise concern and awareness of a potential hazard, which it is agreed by all that we must continue to monitor and assess.
However, removing phone masts will never remove the problem.
During my career, I was an antenna system design engineer in the defence sector and for part of that time I was the safety officer.
From the first day that we started to use electrical devices, from the light bulb to the mobile phone, we have increased the ambient levels of EMFs in our environment.
Even if we could give up electricity altogether, we would still be left with lower level exposures from natural sources.
The scientific community accepts that about four per cent of the world's population have raised sensitivity to electro-magnetic fields – a condition known as EHS. Many of these people suffer from other illnesses such as epilepsy and there may be a link between the recently discovered, raised sensitivity and the trigger levels for these other medical conditions.
Our responsibility is to reduce the intensity of the fields to the general public, and take some positive consideration of these more sensitive cases.
Phone companies should be forced to share masts so the total number of masts can be reduced.
Peter Kipling
Firbank
Euxton
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Weather for Chorley
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to -0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
